Two public outreach efforts of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Blueprint for America nationwide community service initiative marking its 150th anniversary and the SustAIAnability 2030 Toolkit, a resource created to encourage mayors and community leaders to advocate eco-friendly building design, earned an Award of Excellence in the 2007 Associations Advance America Awards, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership.

The Blueprint for America initiative underwritten by the AIA is an opportunity for its members to give back to the communities they serve by donating their time and expertise in 156 communities.  The Blueprint initiative encourages civic engagement and fosters understanding about how citizens can find a voice to address specific issues related to the design and planning of their community; to help create a better future for their community.

The SustAIAnability 2030 Toolkit provides an overview of green building issues, sample ordinance language that is already in effect in other cities, and real world examples of what other communities are doing to reduce their contribution to global climate change. The toolkit was developed to support the AIA goal of reducing the carbon emissions generated in the construction and operation of all new and renovated buildings by 50 percent by 2010 with the long-term goal of carbon neutral buildings by 2030.

For a complete list of Blueprint for America community initiatives or to learn more about the SustAIAnability 2030 Toolkit, visit www.aia.org .